Here I am ta-Da *Jazzhands*

I can't believe it's been like 4 months since I have last posted. That is kind of crazy. But I am back and just as awesome as ever! 

The posts for the rest of the week and next will be catch-up things about what I have been up to for the last 4 months, including my summer holiday, start of schools and things I loved in the summer etc. So stay tuned! 

Just a super short post today to let you guys know I am back to blogging. Life have been busy but I am happy I am back now and sharing moments of my life with your guys ^_^ 

-ing APR/MAY 2013

Hello My Precious Earthling Babies! (Okay, that does sound weird but hey! It's me.)

Another -ing. I feel like I haven'e done one in ages and I really haven't. I have been doing so much lately and here's my attempt to tell you what I am doing at the moment that's not school-related. Or exam-related. Or revision-related.

Joining: GOODREADS! and Pulseit

Reading: --------> Goodreads sidebar

Listening (Audio Book): Seriously... I'm Kidding - Ellen DeGeneres

Watching (TV series): The Mentalist

Watching (Anime): Post coming soon! ^_^ 

Magazine-ing: 

• Ray - Jan 2013
• Vivi - August 2012
• Company - February & April 2013

Searching: Artsy/Drawing Materials

Book Stack - MAR/APR 2013

Purchased from Book Depository

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki

Purchased from Book Store

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Abandon by Meg Cabot

tempest by Julie Cross

E-book from Amazon

Awakening (The Watchers Trilogy) by Karice Bolton

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Paper Towns by John Green

Parallel (Travelers Series) by Claudia Lefeve

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

The Jelly Bean Crisis by Jolene Stockman

Gravity (The Taking) by Melissa West

Purchased from Costco 

Gone Series by Michael Grant - Book 1 to 4 (Gone, Hunger, Lies and Plague)

The Beautiful Creatures Complete Collection by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (Beautiful Creature, Beautiful Darkness, Beautiful Chaos and Beautiful Redemption) 

These long series are reserved to be read in the summer since I don't have much time to read long series before exams start. 

SOTD #10

"Do what makes you happy.

Be with who makes you smile.

Laugh as much as you breath.

Love as much as you live." 

Sweet 16 With Awesome Pressies!

Hey! Yes, I am 16 now. Not that it makes a difference because I pretty much look the same and just about everything else is the same. Life doesn't stop or get better as you officially get a year older. The day before my birthday, because my lovely English teacher was making us do an extra 40 minutes of English in the morning of my birthday, I just went full on depressing mode. It was not pretty. But English didn't turn out so bad and I had an amazing birthday. So you don't just get a year older, you also have a hell of a time while changing a number. I am not going to go SUPER SWEET 16! BUT I am going to go -insert GIF-

This is a tiny bit over the top. You get my drift!

Here's some Wikipedia facts on 16:

• 16 (sixteen) is the natural number following 15 and preceding 17. 
• 16 is a composite number and a square number, being the square number of 4.
• It is the smallest number with exactly five divisors, them being 1, 2, 4 and 8. 
• The atomic number of sulfur.
• Group 16 of the periodic table are the chalcogens. 

My day:

School was pretty much the same. Lesson, break, more lessons, lunch then sport. I should have done yoga in Games but not enough people showed up and my teacher was awesome so we just all chilled. I got home and guess what movie I watched? Guess. You probably got it wrong. I watched Silver Linings Playbook!

Yes, that was my reaction at the end of the movie. It was so cute. Actually to be fair, that's my reaction to quality rom-coms (Not The Notebook). I have been told by so many people how good the movie was and I finally got a chance to to watch it and OHMYGOSH! It's such a good movie. I have now turned into one of those people who will recommend this movie to anyone I know. 

I have to talk about my pressies! I am not bragging or anything. I just want to share my love and excitement and that little bit of awesomeness with everyone. :)

Dr Martens 1460 W in Red a.k.a. FAVOURITE PRESENT!

Dr Martens 1460 W Boots in Red, a.k.a. FAVOURITE PRESENT! I have been talking about getting a pair of red Dr Martens boots since Christmas and I am so happy I finally got it. They look so awesome. I need to give 4 years old mini-Ching a highfive! -self-five!-

Ignore the orange socks. I love those orange socks but they clearly doesn't match with the blue, either blues. Shoes seems to be a recurring theme in my present but apart from me loving shoes and getting two pairs for my birthday, I don't have that big a thing for shoes. I must say... I LOVE CREEPERS! They are so much more comfy than I thought. They also look awesome because I have been complimented a few times.  -cheeky grin-

Two very thoughtful presents from my parents. The lovely Paddington Bear bag is for my school next year because I am going to get so many folders and books and my mother is always the most awesome person in the world when it comes to getting things I actually need. Also my mother knows how much I FREAKING LOVE NOTEBOOKS! I have declare my love for pretty notebooks on this blog before, so I won't go into it again. So Thanks Mummy! 

The present from my little sister, and father (sort of). Everything about my little sister is food related. EVERYTHING. I can guarantee it. I am quite sure the cupcake maker is 30% mine and 60% hers. 

L: Little Sister's Card. R: Parent's Card.

My parents give me a numbered age card every year since I was 13. So I have 4 in my yearly increasing collection.

Presents from Beth. The sketch book is g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s! The paper has amazing quality. But what is with me and flower this year?! I have no idea either. Those are 3 bookmarks on the right there. Plus she gave me a little string devil keyring this. Apparently it's me wrapped up in a little keyring. Cheers Beth! She knows I LOVE FOOD~ Those chocolate are going to last me like... 2 days? Probably less.

I love this card! Because WITH GREAT HAIR ALWAYS COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY. 

Conclusion: I love my birthday!

Chiguhagu Planet

Chiguhagu Planet (Tig-Hug Planet)

Mangaka: Meguro Amu

Volumes: 1 (4 Chapters)

Year: 2011

Genre: Shoujo, Romance, Comedy, Slice of Life, School Life

Storyline: Since her parents are a little slow, Matsuda Erika (Eri) has taught herself to be independent and extremely reliable. Furthermore, she devotes herself to helping and taking care of others around her, maybe a little too much as some of her classmates find her behavior overbearing and annoying. One day, a strange new transfer student is introduced in her class. The transfer student is an odd boy named Nokina Kaname. Eri feels compelled to talk care of this alien-like new boy in her class!

This is one of my favourite “short” shoujo manga. I consider myself kind of a shoujo expert because I have read a lot of shoujo mangas and oneshots. Trust me, this one is really cute. It has your cliché manga romance but not quite. I am not going to tell you what it is in case I am spoilering. I totally recommend checking it out because 

1. It’s only 4 chapters so you can finish it in like 30 minutes (I think that's how long I took) and 

2. The entire first chapter is about her and her friends who are just awesome. 

You have to admit, the drawing is really pretty. I love mangas with extremely cute or pretty art style. Go Meguro Amu! Click here to check it out!

Rating: 9.3 / 10

I Can't Speak French

Bonjour! (That is just about how much French I know.) 

My reaction to NO MORE FRENCH SPEAKING!
(Well, apart from if I want to go to France. But I can speak English there.)

I'm just being a little silly because I am super relived right now. I am so glad all my French speaking control assessments is over. That thing was scary and I swear it's designed torture kids. Yup, I basically walked out of French and was like YAAAAAAY! NO MORE FRENCH SPEAKING!!! A little bit quieter but you get the just. Okay, I am a little TOO relived but it's understandable. I truly suck at French. But I pulled through both the speaking control assessment and now I am free. Sort of. I have Art exam tomorrow. Blargh. I am just going to enjoy tonight with some victory dancing? -randomly waving my arms around and not sure if that's called dancing-

Roller coaster of Life

Hey! 

I am just chilling here with delicious apple pie and vanilla ice-cream and my awesome blog. I haven't wrote anything here for 2 weeks, give or take a day or two. I have just been so busy lately and I really wish I have time to blog more often. I found time now so I am going to spend some quality time with my buddy.  

I think life can often be described as a roller coaster. It has it's up and down. Some times in a different order to how you think it will happen. Life is a series of unexpected events. Or moments. It makes you reflect on your life and how you have made the most of it or ruined and wasted it. 

It's 18 days until my birthday. 18 days until I turn 16. I want to reflect on what I have done with my life and what I can do better or differently. Reality basically smashed into my face when I got my exam time table yesterday. I am not the smartest student. Nor do I have the most exam papers in the summer. I will do the best I can but exam seriously takes like 3 years off our lives. It's still 2 months until I have to start my first exam, but pressure is definitely on. School, teachers, peers and parents give you an overwhelming amount of stress and pressure that you don't really realise. It is hard to handle and it can drain and slowly kill you. Don't keep it all in. It's not good for you. Let it all out. All of it. Cry, scream, punch. Do whatever you want to let it out. It will make you feel better and you deserve to feel better. I think it's best in life to stay positive and think about the beauty of the world you are in and your life, but still be sort of realistic about it. I am not a person who let myself feel emotions easily, so I don't get stressed or pressured as easily as other people. But I hope all of you out there who are pressured or upset as exams and revision is coming up to feel better. You need to relax and think about all the things you have achieved and what a great person you are. As a person who recently dealt with a part failure, I understand life is not easy. However, you have to make the most it. Take time out for yourself so you can think back in like 30 years time and still remember life was not all that bad back when you though it's all doom and hell. 

That's enough of my rambling and "You just sound so mysterious whenever you try to sound philosophical" quoted from my dear friend Beth. I have an art exam in like 2 weeks and I have a ridiculous amount of art coursework I still have to do. So I should get going to do that. I am actually quite motivated in art as my art teacher complimented me and called me an "artist" for doing things that she wouldn't have thought of. I think it's nice get motivated sometimes, it cheers me up. To all you artists, you are all very talented. Art is about expressing yourself in the way you want. Like words. Don't let anyone or anything get you down.  

I wish all of you out there, stressed or not, good luck with whatever you are doing! ^_^

P.S. Erin and Beth, this one is for you guys. You know I love you guys to bits so cheer up! Be happy :)  

Ingredients For Happy Syrup

Happy Forever Alone Day!

If you are all by yourself and being anything but grumpy, then my friend, you are doing it right.

Yes, Valentine's Day is really overrated. Everyone know that you should treasure the special someone you love every minute of every day. Not just on the 14th of February. I was stuck in school for all day today, so most of you are probably having a better day than moi.

So let's talk about... HAPPY SYRUP! 

To understand what Happy Syrup is, you must know that IT'S NOT REAL! I made it up a while ago because I can. The aim of Happy Syrup is to make you more happy when you are not. It's that simple and self-explanatory.  

Ingredients:

• Chocolate. A lot of chocolate. I don't care which form is comes it, either it's hot chocolate, chocolate ice-cream or even chocolate cake. It doesn't matter.
• Rainbows! Seriously. Rainbows makes the world go round and it has pretty colours! 
• You need a combination of depressingly sad music and super romantic happy music. You need the same amount of each and alternate it on a playlist. One sad then one happy then one sad again. You get my drift. Farewell Sakura by Violence is Savanna (Japanese) is one of my favourite song because it's super sad. The music video says it all.
• The Notebook. I don't find it sad or romantic or anything but a lot of girls do. Cry while eating doughnuts  Apparently it helps. What is helps with, I have no idea.
• A soft, squishy pillow. To hug, to cry into or to punch is up to you. Do whatever you want. 
• Have a girlie night. Maybe? Those are good for cheering up.

Yeah, there probably are more ingredients but I can't really remember them. So there will do.

Side effects: Hyperness. Fatigue. 

You basically can't over doze it because you just get more happy. That's how it works. 

Because it's Valentine's Day, here are things you shouldn't do:

• Kiss the guy your BFF has a thing for. Seriously, it doesn't go down well.
• Eat 3 tonnes of sugar. 
• Revision. I mean who the guy would want to do that?!
• Play too much video games and forget about the world around you. You shouldn't be doing that anyway.
• Cry for no reason.

Just a cute thing to cheer people up. :)

Seriously, it's Valentine's Day, so you MUST listen to LOVE by Nat King Cole.

Hope everyone had a lovely day regardless of whether you have that special someone or  alone. 

A Random Epiphany

Narwhale, Narwhale swimming in the ocean causing a commotion...

OH MY GOSH!

Narwhale is secretly a jellyfish in disguise!!!

# Me and Erin's awesome crack in the middle of PE while counting fluff. (We are just that awesome.)
Was it the pun? I feel like it was the pun!

Book Stack - Jan 2013

Books... have I mention how much I love books?! I L.O.V.E BOOKS SO MUCH! You get the idea. Therefore, I enjoy reading about good or new books that I would be interested in reading.

How awesome is it if my book shelves/stack look like this?
I would love it if my future apartment is like that.
Then I would be in book heaven. hehe

 Here's my first book stack! It's basically every book I have acquired this month. 

Purchased from Book Depository 

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell 

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

(Mentioned in another blog post.)

Borrowed from Library

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Can you believe I have never read any book by Gayle Forman and Lauren Oliver? No, I can't either! They are such amazing author yet I haven't read anything by them. I should be ashamed. Both books are for the Wishlist Challenge.

E-book from Amazon

Sweet 16 by Kate Brian

Evie's Knight by Kimberly Krey

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (Also for the Wishlist Challenge)

I am so excited to read all of these books. I have had so many great things and read lots of amazing reviews about them. Let's hope I get time to read while school is still super busy.

I ordered Just One Day by Gayle Forman on Friday. I can't wait for it to arrive. I am really looking forward to reading it. -squee at an awesome book-

SOTD #07

I feel like having something sweet and cute today. So lalala~ 

" Love stories happen everyday. When you think you are chasing it, it might just be chasing you instead."

It's heart shaped. Therefore, it's sweet and cute. Simple Chingy logic. 

Music Madness: Indie Rock

A 2 days belated music post but nevertheless MUSIC! So the spotlight today is... -drum roll-...

INDIE ROCK

I have no clue why but since last week, I have been really into Indie Rock. It's such a diverse and awesome genre.

Metric

Metric is a Canadian Indie Rock band. I actually first heard about them when I watched Scott Pilgrim vs. the World with Beth and Erin a few years back. If you haven't seen the movie, you are missing out big time. Anyway, their song, Black Sheep, was featured in the movie. Although Brie Larson sang it instead. I love the song so much so that I listened to Larson's version for ages, since I didn't know Metric originally sang it, until I got the soundtrack. When I got the soundtrack, I immediately listened to Metric's version. If there is any way for me to love the song more, it's listening to Metric's version. Emily Haines sang it to perfection. I actually way prefer the original version compared to the movie version. 

Another song I absolutely adore by Metric is Gimme Sympathy. I can replay this song over and over and over again and not get bored.

I have to admit that Metric is really what got me into Indie Rock music. So a BIG thumbs up to them. Also check out some of their other songs. You won't be disappointed.

Stars

Before I even say anything about Stars... listen and prepare to fall heads over heels with this song, completely in love. I DO MEAN absolutely in love.



Now that you are in love, I shall begin. Stars is a Canadian Indie Pop band. They are amazing. I think you get my drift about their awesomeness. Their songs have featured in quite a few dramas. Sadly, I don't watch any the dramas that their songs are featured in. However, Dead Hearts was probably most popularly on Like Crazy. I haven't seen the movie either but I still love this song. I serious need to get their albums instead of going on Youtube all the time, espeically The North. Other stunning songs:

• Fixed
• The Theory of Relativity
• Ageless Beauty
• Your Ex-Love Is Dead
• Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It
• Backlines

If you have heard of Stars and love their music, I love you. You are awesome.

Bon Iver

Bon Iver is an American Indie Folk band. They have an won a Grammy. That is the extent of their awesomeness. I especially adore Skinny Love but I am pretty sure everyone know this song. And this band. So, I don't need to say more about them. All their songs are quality good music.

Metric, Stars and Bon Iver produce good music. When you find and love good music, you will be as happy as I am. Hope you enjoy and love the music like I do~